Post 2: What Is Becoming?

Aging well is the capacity to affirm life in the face of death. D.H. Lawrence expresses it beautifull:

And if, in the changing phases of man's life

I fall in sickness and in misery

My wrists seem broken and my heart seems dead

And strength is gone, and my life

Is only the leavings of a life:

And still, among it all, snatches of lovely oblivion,

            And snatches of renewal

Odd, wintry flowers upon the withered stem, yet new,

            Strange flowers

Such as my life has not brought forth before, new

            Blossoms of me –

                                                            Excerpt from Shadows by D.H. Lawrence

Why is "becoming" part of the title of this blog? Isn't it a strange word to use when moving toward the end of our earthly journey? It isn't—because the value of our lives doesn’t diminish with age. Our spiritual growth—which changes us—doesn’t need to end either.

God reminds us often that God has a purpose, a plan for us. The Lord will fulfill His purpose concerning me; your love, Lord, endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hands. Ps. 138:8  

And then He goes on to tell us what that means.

¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. II Cor. 3:18

²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, Rom 8:38-39

We are created in the image of God, but like a carnival mirror, sin has distorted that image. It is God's purpose to correct that distorted image in us until we resemble Him clearly. And how does that happen? By continuing to “become.”

Becoming doesn’t happen without purpose. It is a choice on our parts. Is our ultimate goal to reflect His image? To portray Jesus to the world? Then we must choose to spend time in contemplation of who He is.

Make space to be quiet.

Imagine Him sitting with you.

Pick a short passage in the Gospels and, after reading it a few times, let it wash over and through you.

Then listen.

What images come to mind, what memories?

If a question comes up. Jot it down for future reference.

If it is something God is asking you to do, respond in obedience.

It is a discipline learned over time, but oh-so-good for our souls.

We cannot become like someone we don't intimately know. May that be our desire.

 Holy Father, speak to me through the Holy Spirit and the Son.

Quote of the day:

"As the son thought sorrowfully of those dear to him who were so near and yet so far, he remembered how they and he together had looked at the reflection of a mountain in still water. It was the reflection that first caught their attention.  But presently they had raised their eyes to the mountain.  Reflect me, said his Father to him then, they will look at thee. Then they will look, and see Me. And the stiller the water the more perfect the reflection.   

Amy Carmichael